PCT-SIERRA (2017) ( – ) Tehachapi, CA to Echo Lakes, CA (Sections F-J : 527 Miles) Please put phones on mute unless speaking. This will reduce background noise. Thank You!!!

March 21st, 2017 @ 7:00PM Pacific Time

Double Tap (Matt Parker)

Hitchcock Lakes Sequoia NP Mile 767 August 2007 3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 1 AGENDA

• Sierra Snow Data & SoCal Potential Snow Areas • Special Gear • Guest Speaker Ned Tibbits (Snow Safety Courses) • Maps • Section G Potential Exit Points

• High Sierra Passes Summary & Information Sapphire Lake Kings Canyon NP • Pass Strategy (1 Pass Per Day) Mile 842 • Times of day to ascend & descend from passes August 2007 • Potential Exit Points in the Sierra • Photos of High Sierra Passes (South & North sides) • Flipping Strategies • Water Crossings • Resupply Strategy • Questions & Answers

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 2 GENERAL COMMENTS

• All mileage points in presentation are referenced to Halfmile mileage points. • 2017 is a UNIQUE year. 2016-2017 Winter is the 2nd Wettest Sierra Winter on record for the Sierra. • Still plenty of Winter left. However, no major storms in March so far and temperatures have been warm. • May be safer and easier to start earlier (before the thaw). • Daily mileage in snow is reduced (~1 mile per hour). • Multiple set of footsteps in snow, can be confusing. • Lots of roads up to PCT crossings or side passes may be closed until later in the season due to snow. • All photos are taken during the PCT 2014 hiking season which was low snow Winter. Some photos from JMT 2007 (August). • Lots of unknowns and a lot will change between now and when you enter the Sierra. • Have a plan but be flexible and adapt.

Muir Pass Mile 837 Early June 2014 Low Snow Year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 3 PCT Water Report

● 2017 PCT Water Report webinar recording  Click Here

● Available online at www.pctwater.com (PDF Format) ● Water reports from Pacific Crest Trail hikers on the trail

● No Water Report for the Sierra section

● Pass Conditions & Water Crossings Report recently added

● Updated several times a day between April-November

● Facebook page created PCT Water & Fire Update Group (Upload Photos Here)

● https://www.facebook.com/groups/1601705620156833/

● Please send Water Report updates (include mileage points and/or Halfmile waypoints & dates) to:

● email [email protected]

● text (619) 734-7289

● call (619) 734-7289 (no one will answer, leave voice mail) 4 Sierra Snow (2017)

● As of Late February 2017 Sierra snow levels are ~186% above average snow levels ● Snow can linger on north and east facing mountain slopes or in shade. ● Snow can melt during the day and refreeze at night causing slick dangerous conditions in the morning. ● Hiking on snow be slower than hiking on dry trail even if conditions are not dangerous. ● Snow can completely obscure the trail making navigation difficult. ● Sonora Pass (mile 1,017) can have a lot of snow. ● http://www.climatesignals.org/resour ces/graph-california-snow-pack- conditions-snow-water-content- february-21-2017 5 Southern California Snow

● It can snow at any place and anytime along the PCT. ● Mt Laguna (Mile 42) can get light snow, but it usually melts quickly and not dangerous. ● Mt San Jacinto (Mile 170-191) can have steep dangerous snow. A PCT hiker died in this area during a snowstorm in 2005. Significant storms possible anytime before Mother’s Day (May 14th, 2017). ● Big Bear area (Mile 245 - 275) can have snow. Usually not steep or dangerous along the PCT near Big Bear. ● Mt Baden-Powell (Mile 375 - 385) can have steep dangerous snow.

6 SPECIAL GEAR

• Special Gear • Ice Axe (for the Sierras in heavy snow years)  Corsa • Black Diamond Whippet Ski Pole • Microspikes (Kahtoola) or Crampons (Kahtoola) Virginia Lake Wilderness • Self-Arrest Skills Mile 892 August 2007 • Bear Canister BV500 • Required between Sequoia NP & Yosemite NP (Miles 754 – 997) • New for 2017  Bear Canister also required in Desolation Wilderness (Miles 1,096 – 1,117) • New in 2017  Required in Lassen NP (Miles 1,344- 1,363) IF you camp overnight • Ship to Kennedy Meadows (South) • Ship back from South Lake Tahoe (CA), Kennedy Meadows North (CA), or Bridgeport (CA)

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 7 NED TIBBITS MOUNTAIN EDUCATION

• Mountain Education Website (Ned Tibbits) • Classes for PCT Hikers • NOBO Snow Advanced Class (6 Day) • Chicken Spring (Mile 751) Lake to Kearsarge Pass (Mile 789) • Classes offered from late April to early August • Classes Offered • Snow Basics • Snow Intermediate • Snow Advanced • Thru-Hikers • Private Courses

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 8 MAPS & APPS

• Halfmile Maps  https://www.pctmap.net/maps/ • California (Sections F-J) • Tom Harrison Maps • Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Virginia Lake • Kings Canyon High Country Mile 892 • Bishop Pass – North Lake / South Lake Loop • Mammoth High Country • • • Halfmile PCT App & Guthook’s PCT App

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 9 SOUTHERN SIERRA

Mount Hale PCT Sequoia NP Mile 767

Hwy 395

Potential Exit Points will mostly be to the East of the PCT

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 10 HIGH SIERRA PASSES

1. Trail Crest* Mile 767 (13,646 ft) – least desirable exit point 2. Mile 780 (13,120 ft) – Shepherd Pass (mile 774.6) not a recommended exit point 3. Kearsarge Pass* Mile 789 (11,171 ft) 4. Glen Pass Mile 791 (11,947 ft) 5. Pinchot Pass Mile 807 (12,139 ft) 6. Mather Pass Mile 817 (12,096 ft) Mather Pass View 7. Mile 839 (11,973 ft) Kings Canyon NP 8. Selden Pass Mile 866 (10,910 ft) Mile 817 August 2007 9. Silver Pass Mile 885 (10,748 ft) 10. Island Pass Mile 925 (10,227 ft) 11. Donohue Pass Mile 930 (11,073 ft) 12. Benson Pass Mile 966 (10,125 ft) 13. Dorothy Lake Pass Mile 997 (9,531 ft) 14. Sonora Pass Mile 1,017 (9,633 ft) 15. Carson Pass (Highway 88) Mile 1,077 (8,590 ft) 16. Dicks Pass Mile 1,106 (9,377 ft) 17. Barker Pass Mile 1,125 (7,658 ft) 18. Donner Pass (Interstate-80) Mile 1,157 (7,200 ft)

* Trail Crest 8.5 miles off PCT to Mount Whitney Summit (14,505 ft) ~1 day (camp at Guitar Lake or above) * Kearsarge Pass 7.6 miles off PCT to Little Onion Valley Campground

NOTE : Hit the High Sierra Passes in Kings Canyon & Sequoia NP early in the day (but not to early to avoid icy conditions) to avoid late afternoon thunderstorms which are common. Avoid descending from tops of passes late in the day which leads to post-holing (extremely slow going) and potential injury.

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 11 POTENTIAL EXIT POINTS (SECTION G)

Potential Exit Point to Hwy 395 Kennedy Meadows South (Mile 702) – hitch to Hwy 395 Point of no return until Mile 744.5 (Mulkey Pass).

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 12 POTENTIAL EXIT POINTS (SECTION G)

Potential Exit Points to Horseshoe Meadow (9,960 ft) Mile 744.5 – Mulkey Pass (10,385 ft) Mile 745.3 – Trail Pass (10,486 ft) Hitch to Lone Pine (22 miles) from Horseshoe Meadow. Road to Horseshoe Meadow could open later in season due to snow. Reports of a washout on Horseshoe Meadow road also could impact opening date.

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 13 POTENTIAL EXIT POINTS (SECTION G)

Potential Exit Points to Horseshoe Meadow (9,960 ft) Mile 750.2 – Cottonwood Pass (11,145 ft) Hitch to Lone Pine (22 miles) from Horseshoe Meadow. Road to Horseshoe Meadow could open later in season due to snow.

Potential Exit Points to Horseshoe Meadow (9,960 ft) Mile 744.5 – Mulkey Pass (10,385 ft) Mile 745.3 – Trail Pass (10,486 ft) Hitch to Lone Pine (22 miles) from Horseshoe Meadow. Road to Horseshoe Meadow could open later in season due to snow.

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 14 PASS STRATEGY (1 per DAY)

Camp as high as possible to minimize time on snow the next day to avoid postholing in the afternoon.

DAY #0 Camp : Tyndall Creek Mile 774 (Bearbox)  Tyndall Creek can be a difficult crossing.

DAY #1 Forester Pass Mile 780 Camp : Bullfrog Lake Mile 789 (15 miles, ~3,200 ft up) Potential Exit Point  Kearsarge Pass* (11,771 ft): Mile 789 junction (10,525 ft) 2.8 miles to Kearsarge Pass (11,771 ft) + 4.8 miles to Onion Valley Trailhead (9,196 ft) Hitch down to Independence, California (popular resupply location).

DAY #2 Glen Pass Mile 791 Camp : Woods Creek Mile 800 (11 miles, ~1,700 ft up) Potential Exit Point  Baxter Pass* (12,300 ft) : Mile 796 junction (10,218 ft) 5 miles to Baxter Pass (12,300 ft) + 7.2 miles to Baxter Pass Trailhead (6,035 ft) + road walk to Hwy 395 Baxter Pass trail east of the pass is unmaintained trail. Forester Pass Kings Canyon NP DAY #3 Pinchot Pass Mile 807 Mile 780 Camp : South Fork Mile 812 (12 miles, ~3,900 ft up) Late May 2014 Potential Exit Point  Sawmill Pass* (11,347 ft) : Mile 803 junction (10,369 ft) Low Snow Year 3.6 miles to Sawmill Pass (11,347 ft) + 10.0 miles to Sawmill Pass Trailhead (4,587 ft) + road walk to Hwy 395

Potential Exit Point  Taboose Pass* (11,360 ft) : Mile 810 junction (10,778 ft) 4.0 miles to Taboose Pass (11,360 ft) + 8.0 miles to Taboose Pass Trailhead (5,430 ft) + road walk to Hwy 395

* High Sierra passes east of the PCT may have snow/ice and ALL are uphill from PCT.

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 15 PASS STRATEGY (1 per DAY)

Camp as high as possible to minimize time on snow the next day to avoid postholing in afternoon.

DAY #4 Mather Pass Mile 817 Camp : Mile 828 (16 miles, ~2,200 ft up)

DAY #5 Muir Pass Mile 839 Camp : Evolution Lake Mile 844 (16 miles, ~4,100 ft up) Potential Exit Point  Bishop Pass* (11,973 ft) : Mile 831 junction (8,751 ft) 6.5 miles to Bishop Pass (11,973 ft) + 5.3 miles to South Lake Trailhead (9,820 ft) Hitch to Bishop, California (popular resupply spot)

DAY #6 No Pass Camp : Sallie Keyes Lake Mile 864 (20 miles, ~2,900 ft up)

DAY #7 Selden Pass (10,910 ft) Mile 866 Camp : North Fork Mono Creek Mile 880 (16 miles, ~2,000 ft up)

DAY #8 Silver Pass (10,748 ft) Mile 885 Muir Pass Camp : Lake Virginia Mile 892 (12 miles, ~4,100 ft up) Kings Canyon NP Mile 839 Early June 2014 * High Sierra passes east of the PCT may have snow/ice and ALL are uphill from PCT. Low Snow Year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 16 FORESTER PASS (South Side – Looking North)

Forester Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 778 Late May 2014 LOW snow year

Forester Pass

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 17 FORESTER PASS (South Side - Looking South)

Forester Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 779 Late May 2014 LOW snow year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 18 FORESTER PASS “ICE/SNOW CHUTE” (South Side)

Forester Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 779.4 Late May 2014 LOW snow year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 19 FORESTER PASS (Top) Looking North

Forester Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 779.5 Late May 2014 LOW snow year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 20 FORESTER PASS (North Side) Looking South at Pass

Forester Pass

Forester Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 780 Late May 2014 LOW snow year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 21 FORESTER PASS (North Side)

Forester Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 780.7 Late May 2014 LOW snow year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 22 Glen Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 790 Late May 2014 LOW snow year

GLEN PASS (South Side)

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 23 GLEN PASS (South Side)

Glen Pass

Glen Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 790.5 Late May 2014 LOW snow year 3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 24 Glen Pass GLEN PASS (Top) Kings Canyon NP Mile 791.1 Late May 2014 Looking South LOW snow year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 25 GLEN PASS (Top) Looking North

Glen Pass Kings Canyon NP North side of Glen pass can be steep and icy. Mile 791.1 Late May 2014 LOW snow year 3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 26 GLEN PASS (North Side) Glen Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 791.3 Late May 2014 Looking North LOW snow year

North side of Glen pass can be steep and icy.

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 27 GLEN PASS (North Side) Glen Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 792 Late May 2014 Looking South LOW snow year Glen Pass

North side of Glen pass can be steep and icy.

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 28 PINCHOT PASS (Top) Looking South

Pinchot Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 807 Early June 2014 LOW snow year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 29 PINCHOT PASS Pinchot Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 807.1 Early June 2014 (Near the Top) LOW snow year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® South Side 30 Pinchot Pass Kings Canyon NP PINCHOT PASS (Top) Mile 807 Early June 2014 Looking North LOW snow year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 31 MATHER PASS (South Side) Looking North

Mather Pass

Mather Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 815 Early June 2014 LOW snow year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 32 MATHER PASS (South Side) Looking North

Mather Pass

Mather Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 816 Early June 2014 LOW snow year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 33 MATHER PASS (South Side) Looking South

Mather Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 816 Early June 2014 LOW snow year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 34 Mather Pass MATHER PASS (South Side) Kings Canyon NP Mile 816 Early June 2014 Looking South LOW snow year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 35 Mather Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 816.9 MATHER PASS (Top) Early June 2014 LOW snow year Looking North

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 36 Mather Pass

MATHER PASS (North Side) Looking South Mather Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 816.9 Early June 2014 LOW snow year 3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 37 MUIR PASS (South Side) Looking ???

• Muir Pass ALWAYS has a lot of snow. • In 2014 I walked on ~7 miles of snow (up and over Muir Pass). Muir Pass Kings Canyon NP • Multiple footprints  confusing. Mile ~836 Early June 2014 • Topo Maps, Halfmile App, Guthook App all of use here. LOW snow year • ALWAYS carry hardcopy maps.

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 38 Muir Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile ~837 MUIR PASS (South Side) Early June 2014 LOW snow year Helen Lake

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 39 Muir Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile ~837.5 MUIR PASS (South Side) Early June 2014 LOW snow year Muir Pass

B

Mount Solomons

Helen Lake

A

B

3/21/2017 A PCT-SIER ® 40 Muir Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 838.6 MUIR PASS (Top) Early June 2014 LOW snow year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 41 Muir Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 838.6 MUIR PASS (Top) Early June 2014 LOW snow year Looking North

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 42 MUIR PASS (North Side) Looking South

Muir Pass

Muir Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile ~840 Early June 2014 LOW snow year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 43 MUIR PASS (North Side) Looking South

Muir Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile ~841.1 Early June 2014 LOW snow year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 44 Kings Canyon NP Mile 835 WATER CROSSINGS August 2007

• Cross these spots EARLY in the day if possible • Tyndall Creek Mile 774 • Mile 811 • Evolution Creek Mile 851 • Alternate (easier crossing) Mile 850 • Bear Creek Mile 869 • Kerrick Creek Mile 981

Crossing early in the morning can mean a difference of a few feet in water level which is higher at the end of a day due to snowmelt.

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 45 SIERRA VIDEO (CA-SECTION H)

• Video of PCT 2014 Thru Hike Sierra Section • https://vimeo.com/151607769 • May 28th – June 15th, 2014 (Low Snow Year) • Includes photos and videos of passes and stream crossings.

Forester Pass Kings Canyon NP Mile 779 Late May 2014 LOW snow year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 46 Oregon (Section F) Near Mount Jefferson Mile 2,034 FLIPPING STRATEGIES Late August 2014

• Flip to NorCal (snow levels are also high here) • Hwy 49 (Sierra City) 4,591 feet Mile 1,195 (CA – Section L / M) • Hwy 70 (Belden) 2,210 feet Mile 1,284 (CA – Section M / N) • Hwy 36 (Chester) 5,051 feet Mile 1,329 (CA – Section N) • Hwy 44 (Old Station) 4,553 feet Mile 1,371 (CA – Section N) • Hwy 299 (Burney) 3,112 feet Mile 1,409 (CA – Section N) • Interstate-5 (Mt. Shasta) 2,157 feet Mile 1,499 (CA – Section O / P) • Sawyers Bar Road (Etna) 5,980 feet Mile 1,597 (CA – Section P) • Hwy 96 (Seiad Valley) 1,373 feet Mile 1,653 (CA – Section Q / R) • Flip to Oregon (high snow winter also) • Interstate-5 (Ashland) 4,271feet Mile 1,716 (CA / OR – Section R / B) • Hwy 66 4,558 feet Mile 1,733 (OR – Section B) • Hwy 140 4,970 feet Mile 1,771 (OR – Section B / C) • Hwy 62 (Crater Lake) 6,177 feet Mile 1,818 (OR – Section C) • Hwy 138 5,923 feet Mile 1,845 (OR – Section C / D) • Hwy 58 5,088 feet Mile 1,905 (OR – Section D / E) • Hwy 242 5,309 feet Mile 1,981 (OR – Section E / F) • Hwy 20 4,804 feet Mile 1,998 (OR – Section F) • Hwy 26 (Barlow Pass) 3,914 feet Mile 2,084 (OR – Section F / G) • Interstate 84 (Cascade Locks) 221 feet Mile 2,144 (OR – Section G)

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 47 Washington (Section H) Knifes Edge Mile 2,275 Late September 2014 FLIPPING STRATEGIES Low snow year

• Flip to Washington (snow levels are also high here) • Forest Road 23 (Trout Lake) 3,849 feet Mile 2,226 (WA – Section H) • Hwy 12 (White Pass) 4,409 feet Mile 2,293 (WA – Section H / I) • Interstate-90 (Snoqualmie Pass) 2,993 feet Mile 2,391 (WA – Section I / J) • Hwy 2 (Stevens Pass) 4,053 feet Mile 2,462 (WA – Section J / K) • Stehekin (Boat Trip from Chelan, WA) 1,557 feet Mile 2,569 (WA – Section K) • Hwy 20 (Rainy Pass) 4,855 feet Mile 2,589 (WA – Section K / L) • Hwy 3 (Manning-CANADA) 3,910 feet Mile 2,659 (WA – Section L)

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 48 RESUPPLY POINTS

1. Mile 567 Tehachapi / Mojave (Hitch 9.2 miles to Tehachapi) 2. Mile 702 Kennedy Meadows - South (0.5 hike) 3. Mile 745 Lone Pine, CA via Mulkey Pass (~2 mile hike + 22 mile hitch) 4. Mile 745 Lone Pine, CA via Trail Pass (~2 mile hike + 22 mile hitch) 5. Mile 750 Lone Pine, CA via Cottonwood Pass (~2 mile hike + 22 mile hitch) 6. Mile 766 Lone Pine, CA via Trail Crest / Mount Whitney Portal (~17 mile hike + 12.5 mile hitch) 7. Mile 789 Independence, CA via Kearsarge Pass (7.6 mile hike + 13 miles hitch) Marie Lakes 8. Mile 831 Bishop, CA via Bishop Pass (7.1 mile hike + 22 miles hitch) John Muir Wilderness 9. Mile 858 Muir Trail Ranch (1.0 mile hike) Mile 866 10. Mile 875 Vermillion Valley Resort (~8 mile hike + ferry ride) August 2007 11. Mile 879 Vermillion Valley Resort (1.5 miles hike + ferry ride) 12. Mile 907 Reds Meadow (0.3 miles hike) 13. Mile 907 Mammoth Lakes (0.3 miles hike + 8 mile bus rid) 14. Mile 943 Post Office (on trail) 15. Mile 1,017 Kennedy Meadows - North (9.1 miles hitch) 16. Mile 1,017 Bridgeport, CA (30 miles hitch on 2 highways), Sonora Pass Resupply 17. Mile 1,091 South Lake Tahoe, CA (12 miles hitch)

* Eastern Sierra Transit Authority – great resource for transportation up and down the Hwy 395 corridor. Yogi’s laminated resupply cards

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 49 RESUPPLY POINTS (Sierras) 1. KENNEDY MEADOWS SOUTH (Mile 702 : CA-Section G) • USPS (there is a $ fee per box) Forester Pass (North Side) California (Section H) • 87 miles (~5.5 days) Mile 780 • Buy as you go (Limited – Kennedy Meadows store) Late May 2014 • Ship ice axe / whippet, microspikes / crampons, and bear canister here Low Snow Year • Make sure Kennedy Meadows is open when your boxes arrive • Camping  available near the store 2. POST OFFICE Independence, CA via Kearsarge Pass (Mile 789 : CA-Section H) • 90 miles (~6 days) • Buy as you go (Mediocre – Chevron) • Hotel  Courthouse Motel, offers rides to and from trailhead for a fee • Could also hitch to Lone Pine, CA or Bishop, CA from Independence • Could resupply at Muir Trail Ranch (Mile 858), special resupply instructions and ~$65 fee per bucket 3. VERMILLION VALLEY RESORT, VVR (Mile 879 : CA-Section H) • UPS only (there is a $ fee per box) • 63 miles (~4 days) • Buy as you go (Weak – small store at VVR) • Camping / Lodging  both available for a fee • Make sure VVR is open when your boxes arrive • Could resupply at Mammoth Lakes (Mile 907), stay at Motel 6

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 50 RESUPPLY POINTS (Sierras)

4. TUOLUMNE MEADOWS POST OFFICE (Mile 942 : CA-Section H) • USPS (no fee) • Make sure you arrive as close as possible to your estimated arrival date on your resupply box. • 77 miles (~3.5 days) • Buy as you go (Strong – Tuolumne Meadows store next to Post Office) • Camping  Tuolumne Meadows Backpackers Campground ($5 per site) • Highway 120 may not be open until later in the summer due to snow. 5. KENNEDY MEADOWS NORTH (Mile 1,017 : CA-Section J) California (Section H) • UPS only (there is a $ fee per box) Mile 841 • 74 miles (~3.5 days) Early May 2014 Low Snow Year • Buy as you go (Weak – small store) • Could also resupply at Bridgeport which is a 30 mile hitch east on Hwy 108 from the Sonora Pass • Camping / Lodging  both available • Highway 108 may not be open until later in the summer due to snow. 6. SOUTH LAKE TAHOE POST OFFICE (Mile 1,093 : CA-Section) • USPS (no fee) • 105 miles (~5.5 days) • Buy as you go (Strong – multiple grocery stores in South Lake Tahoe) • Hotel  Stay at Motel 6 and a grocery store is right across the street • South Lake Tahoe is very spread out which means long walking to most amenities • Could also resupply at the Echo Lakes Post Office (Mile 1,094) which is right on the PCT • Has limited hours and limited options for food.

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 51 RESUPPLY

• USPS Priority Mail, UPS, FedEx • Make box stand out (green labels on all sides) • Address Label typed out • DO NOT require signature for delivery • Send to business over a PO (more flexible hours) • Purchase Yogi’s laminated resupply cards • Place all items in a waterproof bag inside box • Repack most food items in Ziploc Freezer bags • Saves a ton of space and weight • Hotels sometimes will accept packages

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 52 RESUPPLY LABEL

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 53 MAKE SMART & SAFE DECISIONS Bullfrog Lake Kings Canyon NP QUESTIONS? Mile 789 Late May 2014 Low Snow Year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 54 SECTION F (WATER) • Treat ALL water sources in Section F • Mile 567 (Hwy 58 / Tehachapi) • Big water cache usually here • 35 miles to Robin Bird Spring if you start at Hwy 58 (Mile 567) • 44 miles if you start at Tehachapi Willow Springs Road (Mile 558) • Mile 583 (Golden Oaks Spring – WR583) • Cow damage from 2015 fixed but still be wary. • Trough is usually full of disgusting water. There usually is a trickle coming down the hillside ~20ft north of the trough on the left side that is good water. • Mile 602 (Robin Bird Spring – WRCS602) • 0.1 mile off of PCT, cattle drink out of this spring also so be sure to treat water. • Mile 609 (Landers Campground Spring – WRCS609) • I carried 7 liters of water from Landers Campground • 42 miles to Walker Pass Campground / Hwy 178 • Mile 616 (Kelso Valley Road – WR616) • Cache here is unreliable • Mile 620 (Willow Spring – WR620) • 3.2 miles roundtrip off PCT (went dry multiple times in 2016) • Mile 631 (Bird Spring Pass – WR631)  Cache here is unreliable Section F • Mile 651 (Walker Pass Campground / Hwy 178) Mile 623 • Usually there is a water cache here Mid May 2014 • Water trough at Hwy 178 from campground road is reliable Low Snow Year

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 55 SECTION G (WATER)

• Treat ALL water sources in Section G Section G Mile 752 • Mile 651 (Walker Pass Campground / Hwy 178) Late May 2014 • Usually there is a water cache here Low Snow Year • Water trough at Hwy 178 from campground road • 18 miles to Spanish Needle Creek • Mile 664 (Joshua Tree Spring) • Questionable • Mile 669 (Spanish Needle Creek) • 14 miles to Fox Mill Spring • Mile 683 (Fox Mill Spring) • Follow use trail to right of PCT to a trough about 50 ft down the trail. • Water in trough is usually nasty. • Walk past the trough about 20 ft and you will reach the spring (good water). • Good campsites across the spring stream. • 16 miles to South Fork • Mile 699 ()

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 56 SECTION G (WATER) cont.

• Mile 702 (Kennedy Meadows) Chicken Spring Lake Section G • 0.5 mile off trail Mile 751 Late May 2014 • Mile 707 (South Fork Kern River) Low Snow Year • Mile 716 (South Fork Kern River) • Mile 719-722 (Cow Creek) • Mile 731 (Death Canyon Creek) • Mile 742 (Diaz Creek) • Follow the use trail to the right off the PCT for about 0.25 mile staying on the right side of the meadow. • I found ice cold running water in small streams just above the meadow which was flowing down into the meadow. • Mile 751 (Chicken Spring Lake)

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 57 BOUNCE BOX

• Medications • Vitamins Half Dome • KT Tape Yosemite NP Alternate Trail • Athletic / Sports Tape • Water bladder tube & drinking nozzle • Bounce Box Locations • Tehachapi Post Office • Lone Pine Post Office • Independence Post Office • Mammoth Lakes Post Office • Tuolumne Meadows • South Lake Tahoe Post Office

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 58 DOUBLE TAP BIO

• Sierra High Route (Section Hiking) 2015-Present • Pacific Crest Trail (Thru) 2014 • Pacific Crest Trail (700 Miles) 2012 • Tahoe Yosemite Trail 2011 • John Muir Trail 2007

The Painted Lady & Upper Rae Lake Kings Canyon NP Mile 793

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 59 DISCLAIMER

These classes are provided as a service to hikers. The class presentations are distributed in the hope that they will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. By hiking the trail, you assume the risks associated with all aspects of hiking and you are responsible for your safety. Matt Parker (also known as Double Tap) is not liable in any manner and by downloading a Double Tap Hikes class presentation and/or attending a Double Tap Hikes class you release Matt Parker from all liability.

3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 60